Cockney Rhyming Slang

As far as the
Internet and slang dictionaries go, you probably won't find a more
widely covered subject than Cockney rhyming slang. The following article
I hope will dispel some of the enigma.

What exactly is Cockney rhyming slang?

Cockney rhyming
slang at its most simplest uses a conjunction of words, whose last
is used to suggest a rhyme, which is its definition. For example one
of the most famous and one that is very rarely used in all seriousness
is apples and pears, meaning stairs. Usually the rhyming
slang is abbreviated to just the first word, so the above example
would become apples. This in effect makes a sentence in which
it is employed much harder to understand and when a phrase incorporates
two or more elements of rhyming slang the meaning becomes so obscure
that to the ininitiated confusion is the result. There lies its original
purpose, as a form of coded speech.

The most amusing
and cleverest rhyming slang forms a connection with its subject matter
and the with sense it imbues, often employing strong irony. Whether
or not that irony was intended at the outset doesn't matter greatly,
it just helps to entertain.

The origins of rhyming slang

This often bewildering form of slang, although now actually heard throughout the English speaking world, originally developed in an area of inner London now known as the East End. This area, Cockney London, was once defined as being that which
was within the sound of Bow bells, the church bells belonging to the Church of St Mary Le Bow, in Cheapside.

The word Cockney
itself, from an earlier spelling cokeney, literally means cock's
egg, a small malformed egg that is occasionally laid by young
hens. During the 1700's the term, used by country folk, was applied
to town's folk who were considered ignorant of the established customs
and country ways. This term in due course became synonymous with working
class Londoners themselves and has now lost its once denigrating qualities.
Despite
the current definition of a Cockney, to most outsiders a Cockney is
anyone from London itself.

Rhyming slang,
just part of the Cockney vernacular, is believed to have come to prominence
in the early to mid 1800's. It is frequently suggested that it began
its life as the tongue of the London street trader, the costermongers,
perhaps in an attempt to conceal their often illicit practices from
the public or more importantly any illegal activities from the recently
established police force, the Peelers. It may well have begun its
evolution many years before then. Another area of speculation is how
from being such a localised dialect it gained so much prominance;
the suggestion here, is that Cockney rhyming slang was adopted by
the underworld. It was the necessity of the police to learn this criminal
language and by its subsequent publication in law enforcement manuals
rhyming slang became widely known.

Current rhyming slang

Cockney rhyming
slang is so prevalent in British English that many people unwittingly
employ it in everyday speech. You will hear several established terms
used in conversation throughout Britain:

"Let's
have a butchers at that magazine" (butcher's hook = look)

"You're
a berk!" (berkshire hunt = cunt)

"I haven't
heard a dicky bird about it" (dickie bird = word)

"Use your
loaf and think next time" (loaf of bread = head)

"Did you
half-inch that car?" (half-inch = pinch, meaning steal)

"You will
have to speak up, he's a bit mutton" (mutt'n'jeff = deaf)

"I'm going
on my tod" (tod sloan = alone, or own)

"Are you
telling porkies?" (porkies = pork pies = lies)

"Are you
going to rabbit all night?" (rabbit and pork = talk)

"Scarper
lads! The police are coming" (scarpa flow = go)

Most English speaking
countries now employ their own rhyming slang expressions, Australia
has been a particularly strong user since the mid 1900's. It should
be emphasised that the most recently invented rhyming slang doesn't
originate from Cockney's themselves, the name Cockney rhyming slang
is now a loose term for the style of slang that uses the rhyming technique.
Many true Cockney's have a strong pride in their own special vernacular
and their resentment for much of the current batch of rhyming slang
will be very evident, especially when it is given the name Cockney
rhyming slang.

Since the 1980s
there has been a resurgence in the popularity of rhyming slang, with
numerous new examples popping up in everyday in speech. Some make
a bold attempt to infiltrate language use at a national level, usually
employed by eager and cocky (sic) adolescents and especially young
male adults in an attempt to strengthen their identity. The popularity
of 'new laddism', 'girl power' and youth culture in general in the
1990's, encouraged by the media as a profitable commodity, has led
to a wealth of rhyming slang taking hold throughout the United Kingdom.
Much of this new breed of rhyming slang will undoubtedley die as quickly
as it appeared although the broadening of accessible reference resources
such as can be found on the Internet, like this dictionary, will help
further its longevity. Modern rhyming slang often utilizes the names
of the famous who will surely on their own demise from the limelight
take their namesake slang with them. Having said that perhaps a few
will survive as have Mutt'n'Jeff, Tod Sloan and Jack Jones.

A few topical
examples focussing on the famous are:

Ayrton Senna
= tenner (a monetary note)

Claire Rayners
= trainers (the footwear)

Darren Gough
= cough

Damon Hill
= pill

David Gower
= shower

Gary Ablett
= tablet (ecstasy pill)

Gary Glitter
= shitter (anus)

Gianluca Vialli
= charlie (cocaine)

Jack Dee =
pee

Janet Street-Porter
= quarter (a weight of drugs)

Tony Blair
(s) = flairs or hair

Here's a small selection of general, but older, currently used expressions:

ruby murray
= curry

barnet fair
= hair

currant bun
= sun

hampstead heath
= teeth

deep sea diver
= fiver (a monetary note)

mince pies
= eyes

china plate
= mate

pen and ink
= stink

septic tank
= yank (a person from the U.S.)

whistle and
flute = suit

As this dictionary only lists a small selection of rhyming slang it
is suggested that you visit the links page
to access a number of other websites dedicated to Cockney rhyming
slang.